US durable goods orders increased 3.1% in February

"New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $7.4 billion or 3.1% to $247.7
Billion," the US Census Bureau announced this Friday.

Key points:

   •  The increase marked third rise of the last four months, followed a 3.5 percent January decrease. 
   •  Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.2 percent. 
   •  Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.5 percent.
   •  Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $5.5 billion or 7.1 percent to $83.5 billion.